Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS102
2007-01-17 21:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CONOCOPHILLIPS' CUBAN CONCERNS
how-toVZCZCXRO0645 RR RUEHDE DE RUEHCV #0102 0172101 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 172101Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7508 INFO RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0755 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7191 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5854 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1547 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2441 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0702 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 3321 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2532 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 3858 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0367 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 1017 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0715 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ENERGY FOR CDAY, DPUMPHREY, AND ALOCKWOOD
NSC FOR DTOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: EPET ENRG EINV ETTC ECON CU VE
SUBJECT: CONOCOPHILLIPS' CUBAN CONCERNS
Classified By: Economic Counselor Andrew N. Bowen for Reason 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ENERGY FOR CDAY, DPUMPHREY, AND ALOCKWOOD
NSC FOR DTOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: EPET ENRG EINV ETTC ECON CU VE
SUBJECT: CONOCOPHILLIPS' CUBAN CONCERNS
Classified By: Economic Counselor Andrew N. Bowen for Reason 1.4 (D)
1. (U) Action Requested: Please see Paragraph 5.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Petroleum Attache (Petatt) met with
ConocoPhillips (CP) executives at their request to discuss a
recent visit by a Cuban delegation to the Petrozuata
strategic association. CP is concerned that PDVSA will try
to use Petrozuata to upgrade Cuban or Iranian crude. The
company is very concerned about its responsibilities under
U.S. law and asked Petatt to inform the relevant USG
authorities of the situation. END SUMMARY
3. (C) A group of three CP executives, which included CP's
Manager of Business Development, Negotiations, who is based
in Houston, informed Petatt on January 16 that a Cuban
delegation recently visited the Petrozuata strategic
association. The delegation appeared to be composed of CUPET
officials. CP has a 50.1 percent stake in Petrozuata and
PDVSA a 49.9 percent stake. The executives did not give an
exact date for the visit. They stated CP was given less than
24 hours notice of the visit. CP is not sure if the
delegation visited Petrozuata's fields, upgrader, or both.
CP promptly withdrew its employees when it was informed of
the visit. Venezuelan direct hire employees of the strategic
association guided the Cuban delegation during their visit.
The Cuban delegation visit came on the heels of a whirlwind
visit to Petrozuata's fields by an Iranian delegation. PDVSA
also informed CP on the Iranian visit at the last moment.
None of the CP executives were sure exactly why the Cubans
and Iranians visited Petrozuata. (NOTE: An ExxonMobil
executive told Petatt last week that a Cuban delegation
visited Petrozuata. We are unaware of any visits by Cuban or
Iranian delegations to the other strategic associations.
President Chavez visited the Sincor strategic association on
December 19. It is possible that Cuban or Iranian officials
accompanied him on the visit. END NOTE)
4. (C) The executives said CP was very concerned that PDVSA
would try to use Petrozuata to upgrade Cuban or Iranian crude
oil. One of the executives noted the Petrozuata upgrader had
surplus capacity due to recent OPEC production quotas.
Another executive stated he was concerned that PDVSA would
spring a cargo of Cuban or Iranian crude on Petrozuata with
little or no advance notice. The CP executives were clearly
concerned about CP's obligations under U.S. law and requested
that Petatt inform the relevant USG officials of the
situation.
5. (C) Action Requested: that Department provide us with an
answer to CP's question as to whether the upgrading of
Iranian or Cuban crude oil at the Petrozuata facility would
violate U.S. laws or regulations.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ENERGY FOR CDAY, DPUMPHREY, AND ALOCKWOOD
NSC FOR DTOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: EPET ENRG EINV ETTC ECON CU VE
SUBJECT: CONOCOPHILLIPS' CUBAN CONCERNS
Classified By: Economic Counselor Andrew N. Bowen for Reason 1.4 (D)
1. (U) Action Requested: Please see Paragraph 5.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Petroleum Attache (Petatt) met with
ConocoPhillips (CP) executives at their request to discuss a
recent visit by a Cuban delegation to the Petrozuata
strategic association. CP is concerned that PDVSA will try
to use Petrozuata to upgrade Cuban or Iranian crude. The
company is very concerned about its responsibilities under
U.S. law and asked Petatt to inform the relevant USG
authorities of the situation. END SUMMARY
3. (C) A group of three CP executives, which included CP's
Manager of Business Development, Negotiations, who is based
in Houston, informed Petatt on January 16 that a Cuban
delegation recently visited the Petrozuata strategic
association. The delegation appeared to be composed of CUPET
officials. CP has a 50.1 percent stake in Petrozuata and
PDVSA a 49.9 percent stake. The executives did not give an
exact date for the visit. They stated CP was given less than
24 hours notice of the visit. CP is not sure if the
delegation visited Petrozuata's fields, upgrader, or both.
CP promptly withdrew its employees when it was informed of
the visit. Venezuelan direct hire employees of the strategic
association guided the Cuban delegation during their visit.
The Cuban delegation visit came on the heels of a whirlwind
visit to Petrozuata's fields by an Iranian delegation. PDVSA
also informed CP on the Iranian visit at the last moment.
None of the CP executives were sure exactly why the Cubans
and Iranians visited Petrozuata. (NOTE: An ExxonMobil
executive told Petatt last week that a Cuban delegation
visited Petrozuata. We are unaware of any visits by Cuban or
Iranian delegations to the other strategic associations.
President Chavez visited the Sincor strategic association on
December 19. It is possible that Cuban or Iranian officials
accompanied him on the visit. END NOTE)
4. (C) The executives said CP was very concerned that PDVSA
would try to use Petrozuata to upgrade Cuban or Iranian crude
oil. One of the executives noted the Petrozuata upgrader had
surplus capacity due to recent OPEC production quotas.
Another executive stated he was concerned that PDVSA would
spring a cargo of Cuban or Iranian crude on Petrozuata with
little or no advance notice. The CP executives were clearly
concerned about CP's obligations under U.S. law and requested
that Petatt inform the relevant USG officials of the
situation.
5. (C) Action Requested: that Department provide us with an
answer to CP's question as to whether the upgrading of
Iranian or Cuban crude oil at the Petrozuata facility would
violate U.S. laws or regulations.
BROWNFIELD